repartee Hear it!

repartee Definition

rep·ar·tee (rep′är tē, -tā)

noun

  1. a quick, witty reply
  2. a series of such rejoinders
  3. skill in making witty replies

Etymology: Fr repartie, fem. pp. of repartir, to return quickly a thrust or a blow, reply < re-, back + partir (L partire), to part

repartee Synonyms

repartee

n.

retort, quip, banter, sparring; see answer 1, joke 2, wit 1, 2. See syn. study at wit.

repartee Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • exchange: Aileen could successfully exchange repartee against a dozen at once.
  • enjoy: The audience has a fine time booing this haughty pirate and enjoying a tit-for-tat repartee when Hook asks us for advice.

Adjective modifier

  • witty: Always capable of bringing a smile to the room with his witty repartee, his words of wisdom are not unfortunately, repeatable here.
  • snappy: And the dialog crackles with snappy repartee that's simply too clever for real life.
  • sparkling: She'll be getting her tits out for photos with the lads and entertaining them with her sparkling repartee.
  • clever: It is how CID and villains talk, smart and clever repartee being so rare.
  • smart: This smart repartee had the desired effect, and they all retired immediately.
  • ready: His agile mind, quick wit and ready repartee made him something of a favorite of the media.

Noun used with modifier

  • audience: His songs were witty and well crafted with highly intelligent lyrics and his between-song stories and audience repartee were of the same high standard.
  • light: In the feeble light repartee, which she uttered a cry.
repartee Quotes

A majority is always the best repartee.

—Disraeli, Benjamin, 1st Earl of Beaconsfield

Browse dictionary entries near repartee

  1. reparative
  2. reparation
  3. reparable
  4. repand
  5. repairman
  6. repairing
  7. repaired
  8. repair
  9. repaid
  10. repackage
  1. repartition
  2. repass
  3. repast
  4. repatriate
  5. repay
  6. repayment
  7. repeal
  8. repeat
  9. repeat dial
  10. repeated